though they cannot satisfy, I find can ruin it. 'I will therefore arise and go to my Father.' Luke xv, 18 cast out none to my Saviour, who has promised to that come unto Him.' John vi, 37. Yea, doubtless, I 'count all things but loss, that I may be found in him,' Phil. iii, 8, 9, the true ARK, the only REFUGE, which God has provided for perishing sinners." Such a man, indeed, is the Christian; but the Christian, after all, is but a Man. In a state like this, he needs to be continually reminded of his own principles. Even the wise Virgin slumbers though the Bridegroom is at hand. But a cry is often made in the family, before that which will at midnight awaken the world: one like that in the house of Pharaoh for his first-born; or that so lately heard in yours: a cry which, while it rouses the sleeper, and fills his eyes with tears and his heart with pangs, often produces such views of God and of the present and eternal state, as all other monitors would have attempted in vain. Here, then, my afflicted, but, I hope, instructed, Friend, let us study the heavenly science of gaining by losses, and rising by depressions. Leaving the wilderness, like Moses, let us ascend the mount of scriptural discovery, and survey a prospect of which his was but a shadow. Let us look from vicissitude and desolation, to what alone is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away' 1 Pet. i, 4: and, in the house of affliction and death, let us contemplate a House 'not made with hands eternal in the heavens:' 2 Cor. v, 1. How refreshing, to look from a family bereft of its companions and comforts to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem! to an innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and church of the first-born which are written in heaven!' Heb. xii, 22, 23-the only family, which cannot be divided:-the only friendship, which shall not disappoint our warmest expectation. "Glorious as this prospect, is," perhaps you are ready to reply, "I have been long in the habit of viewing it very indistinctly. My attention has been so fixed on one below, that I live looking into the Grave rather than beyond it. My spirits are so broken, my heart so wounded, and my eyes so dim with watching and weeping, that I can hardly read what is before me, or recollect what I read. If serious reflection composes me for a few moments, I soon relapse, and seem to lose sight of every support. I indeed severely feel what you say concerning the present life, but I view the glories of the future like a starving creature, who, looking through the gate of the wealthy, surveys a plenty which but increases his anguish." There is, however, this difference, at least, between your cases: the plenty which is you see if yours, you are really willing to accept it. You never received a gift so freely bestowed or so suited to your necessity, as that Gift of God,' which is 'eternal life through Jesus Christ: Rom. vi, 23. In order to view this more distinctly, let us consider the sufficiency of Our PROVISIONS-For 'Wisdom hath built her house, she hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, and furnished her table. She also crieth upon the highest places of the city. Whoso is simple let him turn in hither, and to him that wanteth understanding she saith, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled:-forsake the foolish, and live' Prov. ix, 1-6. Man, indeed, is daily reminded by the Thorns at his feet, by the Sweat of his brow, and by the Dust to which he is returning, that his paradise is lost :* but paradise regained is considered rather as a mere idea: a subject for Poetry. That book, however, which I hope you have chosen as your best companion in the house of mourning, like the vision of Jacob, not only shows the heavens opened, but discovers a gracious medium of communication and intercourse, as it were 'a ladder let down from heaven to earth :'* a medium so suited to the state of man, that the weakest and vilest, who is humble enough to take hold of it as God's ordinance, advance a step at a time, and call for strength to proceed, may climb by it from Earth to Heaven.† Are you, my dear friend, among the number of those, who stand before God not only as stripped of their comforts, but humbled under sin as the cause of all the desolations with which our fallen state abounds? Open your book at the LX1st chapter of Isaiah. You will there perceive that most precious privilege, paradise restored the Creator descending to the condition and wants of the creature, and once more holding communion with him. To the broken-hearted, the captive, and the mourner, is here shown One mighty to save and to relieve. And, that such should not mistake their friend, our Lord, when he stood up in the synagogue to read, selected this passage: and, having read it, closed the book with saying, 'This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears: Luke iv, 21. "I am," as if he had said, "this Deliverer and 'Desire of nations, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted: blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled; blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh:"" Hag. ii, 7. Heb. xiii, 8. Matt. v, 4. Luke vi, 21. I scarcely need observe, that, in an address like this, (a bow drawn at a venture,) formal statements of the different topics would be improper; and therefore, I shall not attempt to describe, in their order, the *Gen. xxviii, 12. + Compare Gen. xxviii, with John i, 51. various Provisions comprehended in that scheme of redemption, usually termed the Gospel. It may be necessary, however, to remark, that the whole is a proposal to the broken heart; answering all its objections, and meeting all its wants: and that such a proposal will be cordially received, only in proportion as this disposition prevails. As it is the Sick who best knows how to value a physician, the Debtor a surety, and the Criminal a pardon; so it is the awakened conscience alone, which will embrace a constitution calculated to humble the pride, and mortify the corruptions, as well as relieve the wants of man. 'If without shedding of blood there can be no remission,' Heb. ix, 22; he, who is carnest to obtain it, will rejoice to find it though on the accursed tree: and, however the preaching of this cross' shall be esteemed 'foolishness among them that perish,' 1. Cor. i, 18; such an one will not only rejoice in the provision, but magnify the means. God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world :' Gal. vi, 14. 6 6 Our Lord represents the blessings of his kingdom under the parable of a magnificent feast, which a 'King made for the marriage of his Son:' but points out the ruin of the world in its indisposition to accept his gracious proposal, when all things were ready,' and invitations repeatedly sent. They made light of it,' and went their ways! However different their pursuits, they all agreed to reject the invitation. They began with one consent to make excuse: some urged reasons, and some abused the messengers: Matt. xxii, 1-6. But what is this, more than the history of human nature in every age? Let us, however, my dear friend, never forget that the gate lately mentioned, though strait, is open; and that only unbelief and indisposition stand without. Christ has declared that all things are ready: may his gracious influence, accompanying this humbling pro- Christ is a path-if any be misled : If any be but weak-how strong is he: To dead men, life he is-to sick men, health: To blind men, sight-and to the needy, wealth: A pleasure, without loss-a treasure, without stealth. It. To prepare the heart for the reception of this treasure, as a God of order, he is pleased to use a system of means; one of which I hope he is now employing for your soul's health. I love to indulge hope; for affliction is a seed time. And let me freely inquire, since God has called you aside, has spoken so emphatically, and you have had leisure for serious meditation, do not the Provisions of the Gospel appear new, sufficient, and exactly suited to your case? Do you not mark that Gold, which the thief cannot steal? that Foundation, which no tempest can shake? that Life, over which death hath no power? and that Peace, which the world can neither give nor take away? Does not the religion of JESUS, so forgotten and degraded among men, stand forward now as the one thing needful? Does not his friendship appear now to be 'that better part,' which 'shall not be taken away?" Luke x, 42; and which alone can help in extremities? In the wreck of human affairs, indeed, it is, that God often makes his truth appear; and causes his Gospel, like a plank thrown out to the perishing mariner, to be properly known and prized. "These are the great occasions which force the mind to take refuge in religion: when we have no help |
